Socks and Summer: Made for each other

It's the first week of June and you know what that means, right?  July will be here before you have time to wash the ninth load of beach towels!

And that can only mean that the Sizzling, Sensational, Summer Sock workShop is coming up soon!

Super Summer Sock workShop!

Photo by Sean Money, The Charleston Museum

Sock Classes, July 12 and 19

 

I'll be teaching the cuff-down sock on double pointed needles (my favorite method!). You'll learn just how enjoyable it can be to knit socks for yourself or for gifts. As with so much of knitting, it's really not that hard with someone showing you how to do it. 

This is a two-part workshop to give you time to learn all the techniques that will make you a successful sock knitter. There's a lot to learn but it's also a lot of fun!

If you'd just like to brush up on certain sock knitting techniques, you can just take the class covering that topic.

Socks I
In this class we will cast on using double pointed needles, join in the round, do ribbing and stockinette, and knit a heel flap. We'll also discuss fit and patterns.

Socks II
In this class we will turn the heel, pick up stitches for the gusset, 
do gusset and toe decreases and learn the Kitchener stitch.

When, Where and How Much:
Class time:  9am-noon

Class location: Panera Bread near the Outlet Mall

Class Dates: Socks I: Saturday, July 12
Socks II: Saturday, July 19

Class fee: $35/student for one class or $60/student for both classes
Ages 12 and up

What you need to know:
The basics of knitting: cast on, bind off, knit and purl.

What you'll learn:
Sock construction, turning a heel, Kitchener stitch toe grafting, fit, and much more. 

What you need to bring:
One set of double-pointed knitting needles, US size 3.
Sock or fingering weight yarn, 100 grams will make a pair of socks, size medium men's or ladies large.
Also helpful: scissors, yarn needle for weaving in ends, and measuring tape.

Please register by email, no later than July 5:
knitoasis at gmail dot com

 

Throwback Thursday: from Sept, 2012---Why take a class?

It's Throwback Thursday at KnitOasis! Here again are the reasons why taking a class is a Good Thing, with this added note: 

Since I value the teacher-student relationship, I offer high-quality, in person classes, tutorials and consultations. As of this time there are no plans to offer online classes.

Upcoming classes include Cast-ons, 
Indigo Dyeing Workshop and Fair Isle.

Original posting--9/6/12:
Why take a knitting class? When there are books and online videos galore, how do you justify spending a few extra dollars to learn a new skill?

Quality instruction: I've taught knitting for 6 years and I have been certified to teach by the Craft Yarn Council upon successful completion of Levels I and II of their Instructor's Program.  The program was written by experienced knitters who also provide mentoring and evaluation for participants. I knit 20 swatches, developed 7 beginning and intermediate classes and submitted knitted and written patterns for 3 of these, wrote a pattern for a sweater, knit a sweater from another pattern for review, and passed two phone evaluations with one of the creators of the Instructor's Program.  Credentials like these ensure that you will be taught the correct methods in keeping with industry standards.

Let someone else catch your mistakes before they get out of hand: When you're new to knitting or to a technique, it's not always easy to see why you might be doing something wrong.  With an experienced instructor to check your work, you can avoid developing bad knitting habits. Any class you take with me comes with free follow-up---your satisfaction is important to me!

Meet other knitters: So many of my students take classes for this reason because they are new in town. Though I'm not new to the area, I still love to meet new people, especially knitters! I've had the privilege of meeting people from all over the world through knitting classes.

Bonus learning: Because there are so many great tricks and techniques to make knitting easier, there's always something new to learn.  You might take a class on intarsia and learn about a great new cast on method from one of your fellow classmates, for example.

Fun: There's a reason our ancestors gathered for quilting bees and barnraisings--it really is fun to do stuff together!

Knit Inn 2014

On February 7-9, it was my privilege once again to attend the SC Knitting Guild's annual Knit Inn.  As always there were a lot of laughs, a lot of knitting, and many memories to cherish (or not, depending on your perspective, and if you hear the "cookie tantrum" story, trust me, it's very much exaggerated).

This year I again taught the Vintage Winter Shawl class, which is SO much fun to teach!  There were several finished shawls from last year's class in attendance and the lovely knitters who brought them made me feel like a Rock Star Teacher for sure.

The best part of any Knit Inn weekend for me is connecting with old friends and making new ones, and this year was off the charts fabulous in that department.

Until next year, y'all...keep on knitting!

Scenes from last month, plus a change in venue.

I wanted to share some scenes from the January Indigo Dyeing Workshop, held at The Charleston Museum:

Gradient!

Dyers at work

We had 2 big vats this time to accommodate the large group.

Indigo

A before and after!

Tie dye awesomeness

Looks like fun, doesn't it?  Participants always tell me they had fun, and heaven knows I have a blast!  Every workshop is unique and a little bit different from the last one.  The next one might be a whole LOT different!

We will be taking the dyeing to the Dill next time!  The Charleston Museum has a beautiful spot out on James Island and when we haul out the dye vats again, it will be to go to the Dill Sanctuary.  You can see some fun pics from the recent Charleston Museum Oyster Roast here.

Registration will open soon, check back on the Classes page for more information as it becomes available.

Planning ahead. It's better that way.

Coming up in 2014 (yes, it really is just around the corner!), two dates for you to mark on your calendar:

January 25, 2014
Indigo Dyeing Workshop
Registration is now live for this class, to be held again at the Charleston Museum, and since it fills up quickly, I suggest registering sooner, rather than later. Why? Because I can't wait to see what fabulous things YOU can do with Indigo!

February 7-9, 2014
Vintage Winter Shawl Class
This is a repeat of last year's sold out class at the SC Knitting Guild's Knit Inn.  Registration for this will be open by the first part of December (which is now a month away--yikes!).  This year, they will not be taking any walk-in registrations, and all the classes (and hotel rooms) are first-come, first-served.  I don't yet know what date my class will be, but you should plan to come for the whole thing anyway because it's loads of fun!

photo by Sean Money, The Charleston Museum

Knit and Crochet Show 2013

So last weekend, this happened:

 

I traveled up the road to Charlotte, NC to take a class, meet with some editors, and generally hob knob with some of the finest knitters (and crocheters) anywhere.

There was a lot of yarn! And yarn accessories! And people draped in yarn!

Yes, I was one of those people draped in yarn.  Here I am meeting the incredible Melissa Leapman.  When I knitted the "Tamara Wrap," I never thought I'd get to meet the designer of the pattern. I think she approved of my work ;)

And I approved of hers, too. Here she is teaching "Turning Pro" to those of us who aspire to make money from designing knitwear (or crochetwear, as was the case with so many of the other students.  I mean, I have never seen so many crocheters in one place as I did at this show! But I digress...).  So much is right with this pic--Melissa's intensity while teaching, the fact that I was trying to take the pic on the sly (I'm sure she didn't see me aim my iPhone at her from table height. Right??), the magnificent shawl on the student in front of me, which was only eclipsed by her magnificently braided hair...!

That night we were treated to this lady--Patty Lyons.  I laughed so hard at her crazy pics of sweaters that were miles too big, but I also learned a lot about gauge. Great fun! And I was finally in a room full of KNITTERS! There were probably some folks who also crocheted, but I chose to overlook it. Ha!

All in all, it was a fantastic experience.  I spent time with friends from my Knitting Guild, folks I only see at shows like this (like Pat!), and new friends I made like Maureen, Diana and Sandy.

PS: I took with me 5 items that I designed, wrote patterns for and knit in the last 2 months--a shawl, a wine bottle cozy, a bag, a sock (half a pair!), and a hat.  I received offers to buy the shawl and hat for publication!  Stay tuned for further developments on that front :)

 

Feeling Blue Again, or, Indigo Workshop #2

Today we dyed, again!  It's such a privilege to get to guide people into the world of Indigo dyeing.  I love seeing how their yarns and fabrics turn out, and watching them experiment with different techniques is so fun.  My favorite thing, though, has got to be getting to chat with our workshop participants and learn from them as well.

Here's a little of what we did today.  If you find yourself wishing that you, too could have been a part of this workshop, then plan to join us in October for our next one!

Curator Jan Hiester shows us the Indigo exhibit

Is it done yet?

Undyed wool yarn + Indigo = Magnificent!

There's a lot of rinsing.  A LOT of rinsing!

We 3 Hues of Indigo Are...

 

Amazing tie-dye! So creative!

Shaking out the fabric

And the racks filled with so much blue...

"Till the water runs clear..."

Say, hypothetically, you took a dye class recently, and you dyed, say, some yarn.  And you really really wanted to knit something fantastic with that yarn. But you found that whenever you touched the yarn your hands turned an eerie shade of blue and you thought to yourself, we simply can't go on like this...

If you should find yourself in such a hypothetical situation, I'd like to share a few tips that might help you out of your dilemma.  Hypothetically, of course.

There are 3 main steps in the process of colorfasting your hand-dyed yarn:
1) Washing
2) Vinegar
3) Patience

You know that old saying, "Rinse and repeat"?  Well this is the time to put that to work.

My research and experience have yielded two basic methods for removing enough of the Indigo (if that's what you've dyed with, hypothetically) to make the yarn knit-worthy.

      Method One: Soak/Rinse in vinegar/water solution, then wash in hot soapy water.
      Method Two: Wash in hot soapy water, then soak/rinse in vinegar/water solution.

As you can see, the two methods are completely different.

One bit of research I found suggested that colorfasting could be accomplished if you soaked your item in a solution of 1-2 gallons water, 1 cup white vinegar, and 1/4 cup salt.  Soak for a day and rinse well. If rinse water is clear, you're ready to wash.

What I did was soak my yarn in 1 gallon of water + 1 cup of vinegar for about 2 days, rinse like crazy, wash in hot soapy water, rinse some more, and then air dry.  For soap, I used what I normally use for my fine hand-washables, in my case a solution of Shaklee's Basic-H2 plus water.  I read somewhere that shampoo was appropriate for this washing due to the pH of the shampoo, but as I keep telling people, I'm no chemist.  I also thought I'd save my pricey shampoo as a last resort.

Anyway, it took a LOT of soaking and rinsing and washing and rinsing.  Yes, this is tedious. Yes, I'd rather be knitting.  This is where that third step comes in: Patience.

Also consider what one knitter shared with me, "I’ve heard that the excess dye particles in indigo yarn won’t be fully removed until the yarn is used in the knitting process. The rubbing of the yarn through your hands and on the needles gets rid of that last little bit of free range blue."

I know this might be off-putting to some people, but to me, it sounds like we knitters are an integral part of fulfilling this yarn's color destiny.  It will never be truly ready until we have put it through the knitting process.  It needs us. I think that's beautiful.

And it makes sense when you consider that natural Indigo dye has a different relationship to fiber than other dyes.  Indigo does not form a chemical attachment to the fiber, but rather a physical or mechanical one.  (The non-chemist in me thinks this means that the fiber's chemical make-up is not altered when dyed with Indigo. You chemists out there really ought to weigh on this.)  So there you are with your pretty blue yarn and the color basically sits on top of the yarn, rather than becoming "one" with it.  At this point, I am completely over my head, science-wise and insist we go back to the beginning...

I'll repeat my 3 steps in the process:
1) Washing
2) Vinegar
3)  Patience

Rinse well with each step and exercise your patience to get yarn that is both blue and knit-worthy.  If indeed you should happen to need this information. Hypothetically.

A honey of a knit

The longer version, worn doubled.

Because knitting is so full of possibilities, a knitter should never say never.

Case in point, the Honey Cowl.  I had seen this pattern show up several times on Kay Gardiner's social media posts and with her track record for knitting great patterns, I gave it a second look.   I did not immediately cast on,  however.  I mean, a cowl???  I've knit cowls, designed cowls, taught cowls, but never successfully worn a cowl, much less loved one.

The Honey Cowl was a total game changer.  The pattern accommodates multiple sizes and lengths, so I thought, what if?  What if the longer version is as sumptuous and stylish on me as it is the models?  What if this a cowl I actually like?  What if this is a cowl I actually wear?

The answer to "what if" is simple: this cowl is amazing.  I loved knitting it, I love wearing it--the drape of it, the length of it, the versatility of it.  When I wore it to church Sunday, I got 3 compliments, and this from a rather cautious bunch who've been forced to appreciate my knitting for years.  I am sorely tempted to leave behind the knitting of regular oblong scarves as a vestige of my early knitting ignorance.  Scarves need constant maintenance and retying, but this cowl always looks good.

The longer version, slightly over-lit.

Unable to procure the Madeline Tosh yarn that the pattern was written for, I opted for a yummy merino blend by Plymouth Yarn Co., Happy Feet DK.  Having worn my finished cowl all weekend, it is now taking all my willpower to not go back to my LYS and buy all of the Happy Feet DK they have on the shelf.  And knit more Honey Cowls.

I also made a shorter one with a very nice acrylic, but the longer cowl is something I will most likely wear everyday this week.  (My teen is already hanging her head and plotting a fashion intervention. "Variety, Mom. Variety!")

 

The shorter cowl--short and sweet :)

I will be teaching this cowl as a class at the Village Knittery on Thursday, March 7 from 10am till noon.  If you've never made a cowl that you loved, but suspected that you were missing something---THIS is what you've been missing! 

Knit Inn 2013

Teaching at the Knit Inn--Awesome students!!

    Today I find myself still recovering from my wonderful weekend at the SC Knitting Guild's Knit Inn.  So much fun, food, friends, knitting, and more knitting, packed into 3 days!  I was delighted to get to teach the Vintage Winter Shawl to a great group of knitters.  I joked that next year I want to see all their finished shawls and we can take a Class Reunion photo.  Frankly I would LOVE that!

Among the things I learned this year were Russian grafting (so cool!), ways to improve my Magic Loop (AHA!!), how to knit a sweater from the top down, and that so far I don't much like knitting with silk.  There were also some great recommendations for great knitting books, favorite yarns, entertaining BBC programming, and a knock-your-socks-off Show and Tell time that makes me wish I had more time to knit!

If you get the chance to attend a knitting conference of some sort, I recommend that you do.  There is always something new to learn, in or out of class, and new friends to make as well as old ones to catch up with.  

I'll be spending the next year looking forward to the next Knit Inn and hopefully adding other workshops/events as well (SAFF, Stitches, etc).  I may not be an "old dog" but I do love learning "new tricks!"

FYI:

Coming up in May here in South Carolina, Knitting instructor and author,  Margaret Radcliffe will be in Lexington for two days of classes, sponsored by the Palmetto Purlers Knitting Guild.  More info at their website.

What I taught--Vintage Winter Shawl

 

June and July Knitting Events

Summer is knitting time! Be sure to join us for summer knitting fun at various locations in the Charleston area. Just click on the links for more info!

World Wide Knit in Public Day--June 9

Intro to Fixing Mistakes Class--June 9

Intarsia Knitting Class--June 14

Beach Bag Workshop--July 21

Mosaic Knitting Class--July 26

Cabled Cowl Workshop

Sometimes a scarf is too much, and you wish, especially during Charleston's mild winters, for a little something to warm your neck. This cowl is the perfect solution! Knit with a combination of bamboo and wool, it's warm and soft and snuggly, without being heavy or long. Add buttons like my cute vintage ones, or just sew it closed for a continuous loop of cowl-y warmth. The cables are big and fun and really not that hard to learn (I promise!).

Come join us Saturday afternoon, Feb. 25 from 1:00-3:30 as we knit this scrumptious cabled cowl at The Charleston Museum.

Happy Knit Year!

Every late December I make goals for the upcoming year, and somehow the majority of these tend to center on knitting. I guess I figure if the Knitting gets done everything else will surely fall into place. So, for 2012, here's what I hope will happen:

1) Monthly knitting workshops and/or events at The Charleston Museum.

2) Increased enrollment in my classes at Michael's.

3) A daily interactive record of knitting, starting January 1, over on Facebook.

4) My son's Christmas gift will NOT be on the needles next year at Christmas!

5) Complete my Knitting Instructors Certification course by the end of April.

6) Pick a charity for our knitting group to contribute knitted items to. Red Scarf Project again?? Warm Up America?? Something else??

7) Host World Wide Knit in Public Day activities in June.

8) Attend the SC Knitting Guild's Knit Inn in February.

Happy New Year and Happy Knitting!!

Ch-ch-changes...

As we approach the end of 2011, I look back and all I can say is, "What a year it has been!!" I have had the amazing privilege of teaching many classes and workshops this year, with still more being planned for 2012. I am grateful for the opportunities of the last 11 months and SO excited for what's in store in the future!

Highlights from this year...

* Hosted World Wide Knit in Public Day and two knitting workshops at The Charleston Museum.

* Began the Craft Yarn Council's Certified Knitting Instructor Program.

* Attended the SC Knitting Guild's Knit Inn.

* Taught a Sock Knitting Workshop.

* Began teaching Discover Knitting classes at Michael's.

* Hosted weekly Monday Morning Knit group.

* Sent 6 scarves to the Orphan Foundation of America's Red Scarf Project.

* Helped coordinate Two Huge Yarn Sales!

Coming up next year...

* Even more classes at Michael's.

* More workshops (and events!) at The Charleston Museum.

* Summer Sock Workshop.

* SC Knitting Guild's Knit Inn: Feb 3, 4, & 5.

* World Wide Knit in Public Day, June 9.

* Completion of Certified Knitting Instructor Program.

So what are these changes I mentioned? I'm glad you asked! Because of the steady increase in the number of classes and workshops, I will be making a change to Monday Morning Knitters.

Starting in 2012, Monday Morning Knitters will be held on First and Third Mondays. The location will also change to the Panera Bread near the Tanger Outlet Mall, 5070 International Blvd, Charleston, SC.

My hope is that our Monday group can continue despite my heavy schedule, so I'm counting on you all to continue to make it a success in the coming year! Come be a part of the exciting knit happenings as we carry on our quest to take over the world, one knitter at a time!

Monday Morning Knitters Holiday Schedule!

It's that time of year, Knitters, and as the holidays heat up, Monday Morning Knitters will be taking a few well-deserved breaks to celebrate with loved ones (and of course knit, wherever you are!).

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

We will meet on the following Mondays from 10-11:30 at the Atlanta Bread near CSU:

Nov. 28

Dec. 5

Dec. 12

After Dec. 12, we will be taking a break till Jan. 16. Check back here for more info on some exciting changes coming up soon!!

Also, SAVE THE DATE! Fair Isle knitted hat workshop at The Charleston Museum--Saturday, January 28!

Happy Holidays!!

Autumn Knitting = Shawl Workshop!

There's something about autumn, isn't there? The way the sun slants through the trees at a different angle, the cooling of the air (only a little bit here in South Carolina, but we can tell the difference!), the changing colors of the trees, the cheering of football fans every Saturday; all these things help make autumn an enchanting time for me.

And with those first cool evenings giving us a taste of cold(ish) weather yet to come, I hear of more and more of my part-time knitter friends picking their needles up again after a summer's hiatus. Those of us who knit year-round also start searching for something warmer to knit. There's just something about autumn that reminds you about the mittens or scarf or hat that you wished you had made last winter.

Take, for example, the practical yet stylish shawl. Several years ago I made my first winter-weight wrap, and I realized why knitters down through the centuries have made and worn shawls for both warmth and beauty.

This November 12, coinciding with the opening of The Charleston Museum's new exhibit Coat Check, I will be teaching a shawl workshop featuring two different vintage patterns that have a timeless quality. It's that whole warmth and beauty thing, I think. See for yourself. Here is a photo of one of the shawls, a little number whose pattern was first published in 1864.

See what I mean? And it's warm and soft and cuddly, too. But, hey, you don't have to take MY word for it. Come join us November 12 from 9:30-12:30 and make your own. The only thing I have to warn you about is this: The second shawl pattern is also quite stunning and you just might have a hard time picking only ONE to knit!

Half Off Class Fees at Michael's: Today Only!

If there's a Michael's store near you and you've been thinking, "Man, I really want to take that class they're offering, but I don't know...", then today's your day!

Today only, if you register for classes at Michael's, you get 50% off the regular class price! See store for details and list of classes.

And I happen to know that the Michael's in North Charleston, SC has a really awesome Knitting Instructor who will be hanging out this afternoon...knitting :) Be sure to mention this blog if you see her!

Knit-Along!

Many knitters already know the benefits of participating in a Knit-Along (KAL), and, knitting as long as I have, you would think I would have this down pat. Last year I did cast on for a sweater on a shared birthday with a knitting friend who lives in Colorado, but we were knitting different patterns, and her sweater turned out wonderful and mine is finished but hanging in neglected shame in my closet.

This year, however, I have another knitting friend in Atlanta who came up with an idea to have a KAL with me and my 14yo knits-better-than-me daughter. I was charmed by the idea of knitting a bag with a buddy in the next state, despite it being a project destined for felting, something I've purposely avoided thus far. And then she GAVE us the yarn for the project and, well, how could I say no? It's been so fun, to do, too. Despite our starting a bag made of wool/mohair July 1st and knitting through the two warmest months in a summer of record high temps, that is. Some things you have to chalk up to Hazards of the Hobby.

Having a project that you share with a friend is one way to make knitting less isolated and thus more fun. Finally you have someone with whom you can complain about the pattern/yarn/stitches and they don't glaze over with incomprehension! You might, like I do, have the chance to attempt a technique you have been hesitant about, allowing the peer pressure of the KAL to stretch your ability. You have little built-in deadlines that keep the project from languishing when the initial excitement wears off a bit. And if you're competitive, it gives you a chance to knit to the next deadline first for bragging rights. Just don't brag too much, because these are your knitting friends, after all.

If you've never participated in a KAL, I highly recommend it. And if you're looking for a KAL with some history thrown in, I've got just the thing. I signed up for a

19th-Century Doll KAL, to be held Saturday, September 17 at the Charleston Museum. The project is based on a hand-written pattern in the museum archives, and includes a special showing of items from the Museum's knitted and crocheted collection. My daughter is so excited about this she intends to make two. I did mention that she knits better than I do, didn't I?

Purse knitting workshop

History. It's where we all come from.

Knitting. It's what most of us wish we were doing right now.

Combining the two is easier than you think. The Charleston Museum is offering a knitting workshop featuring a modern take on a vintage design. A miser's purse was a popular choice for the smartly dressed Victorian gal, and if the purses in the Museum's collection are any indication, everyone had their own unique style of knitting (or crocheting) one. Since I don't crochet, I wrote knitting patterns for this venture. Three of them! All similar, but different, like the purses in the Museum. And I can't wait to see what the knitters who get hold of these patterns come up with!

If you can cast on, bind off, knit and purl, and you'd like to spend a morning with some awesome knitters at America's first museum, you can register HERE or call 843.722.2996, X 235.

Advance reservations are required. $20/members, $25/non-members.